Bangladesh’s first neurosurgeon Rashiduddin Ahmad battles for life

Bangladesh’s first neurosurgeon Rashiduddin Ahmad is battling for his life at a Dhaka hospital, his family and doctors say.

An emeritus professor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) where he was the founding chairman of neurosurgery, 79-year-old Ahmad was the cynosure of patients for decades.
 
His daughter Rashida Ahmad told bdnews24.com that her father suffered “a massive (hemorrhagic) stroke on Feb 9”.
 

Prof. Dr. Rashiduddin Ahmed

“He did not regain consciousness. He was in coma and last week his condition became unstable. Now he is in critical condition.”

Prof Kanak Kanti Barua, chairman of BSMMU’s neurosurgery department, who saw this teacher at Dhaka Metropolitan Hospital, also said his condition was “very critical”.

He said a medical board was supervising the treatment of the pioneering professor.

Recalling the contribution of his teacher, Prof Barua said Ahmad started the neurosurgery practice in 1970.

“During the liberation war he secretly treated freedom fighters as he was the only neurosurgeon that time. Pakistani army men were also taking treatment from him,” he said.

“In September (1971), freedom fighters urged him to leave the country as the Pakistani army came to know that he was helping them. He left for Agartala.

“After the country's liberation, he came back and started the neurosurgery department at the BSMMU, then known as IPGMR.

Inspired by him, the neurosurgery department was established at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He used to teach there part-time at the beginning,” Prof Barua said.

He was the first chairman of the neurosurgery department when the IPGMR turned into a university, BSMMU, in 1998.